Alibre CAD (Geomagic): How to Make Cosmetic Threads using Helical Cut Tool!

Here's a quick video tutorial on how to make cosmetic threads in Alibre. It's quite simple, but not necessarily intuitive. I made this video because, frankly, the other UA-cam videos on this topic stink. Enjoy! 5 Reasons to Use a Fixture Plate on Your CNC Machine: bit.ly/3sNA4uH

[@HacknBuild]

Thanks for the concise tutorial. I was able to get threads onto my part!

[@voxelmaniam]

Though Alibre is now back in the hands of the original developers this tutorial is still very useful. What remains a mystery to me is that the ability to create both internal and external threads in Alibre is such a hassle. In this age of precision 3D printers these are not just cosmetic threads and the Hole Tool should be updated to do all of this work for us.

[@astbrnrd]

Awesome post J!
As usual ;-) teaching us better things :-)

[@giuliobuccini208]

I found this video for pure coincidence. I recognized the voice immediately: the Fusion360 guy of NYC CNC!!!!

[@altamiradorable]

All your tutorials are very clear and simple ! Gazillion thumbs up for you ! Thanks ! I really enjoy whtching your videos !
Quick question for you ??!!
I would have taught that these would NOT be cosmetic threads since these are actual and physical threads cut in the mass vs. just an image slapped on a hole like in Autodesk Inventor ?
Is this just a difference in semantic or me that I got it wrong ?

[@inciteman]

Your explanation was really clear. Thanks for posting. I like Alibre but feel like Solidworks is probably gonna be better...

[@altamiradorable]

NYC CNC SW, ALibre and Inventor all have almost identical interfaces; makes you womder who copied who ?? !! Inventor is free to use for non commercial production ! Nice to know ! I prefer Inventor !

[@KeithDDowning]

Thanks John, similar in SolidWorks. (you made your minor diameter .75 and I think you intended the major diameter to be .75, but that wasn't the point, I get it).

[@kocnn]

I'm becoming a huge fan John, You are hitting on just about everything I want to do, I use geomagic design at work and I'm putting together a cnc at home, I saw your vid on how to control large dc motors with arduino, so that looks like the way I'm going. Is there a certain arduino i should get to control 3 dc motors and possible more? Thank You so much for your videos.
Kevin

[@mgedeonj3]

Thank you for the video. I created some custom threads, but after the 3D print, things didn't work right.
Question: Does the base line for the cutting tool (triangle) you created for both male and female threads have to be the same? That means the distance from the base triangle and major diameter ( if that makes any sense) or do you make one cut slightly deeper than the other?
I am trying to create a thread using a quadrant as opposed to a triangle because I do not want the crest to be sharp due the nature of the material, which is plastic. In other words, instead of having a sharp end cutting tool, I want a flat end, but for some reason, the pitch comes out so wide compared to the crest when looking at the thread in the 3D model and I think this is why the printed parts didn't work well. Any help would be appreciated.
Hopefully, I am making sense. If you do, please reply.
Of course, I am using Geomagic Design as well.
Thank you.

[@cffellows]

Great video, gonna have to go through the rest of your Alibre videos. By the way, your screen was flipping around pretty fast... what kind of computer (processor) are you running that on?

[@cffellows]

John NYCCNC No, in a good way, I just noticed the computer was loading screens faster than my Toshiba dual processor laptop...

[@TommiHonkonen]

Wow, cool :)

[@NOBOX7]

high friend im an inventor and product developer who has bin looking for a good software like this but i cant currently afford it , i sifted threw days of supposed free downloads, how much did you pay for this software ? ive bin stuck with auto desk quick cad for 15 years please help

[@NOBOX7]

thanks for answering my comment i can totally afford that

[@meocats]

are you going to buy a threadmill and try to machine an external thread?

[@wayne101ist]

John NYCCNC
Thanks for the video John, it was better than any video i've seen on external threads. First video i've seen on internal thread. I only hope that i can get it right.

[@meocats]

John NYCCNC taps and dies are obsolete for cnc v=rDnavOlGcdc

[@wayne101ist]

John NYCCNC Hi

[@wayne101ist]

Wayne Blades Hi John sorry about above. In the video can you explain how long the base is to the triangle on top of bolt for the size of bolt. what about the size of thread like 3/8 -16 do you put in .062 for the pitch. Great Video [e-mail]

[@franksalterego]

If you're going to do it that way, you need to start with the minimum dia. hole... Not, the nominal size.

[@xsk8]

7 years later and they still haven't implemented a proper tool for threading.

[@heresteven]

alibre was bought by geomagic. should have bought the software earlier.